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It's Gas if Kerry lose, they'll have the Northern thing thrown back in their face again! Can you imagine! 

There is no Northern team left.

Donegal are the most northern team of all.

I think we're going to have to show our tougher physical side to win this one. Looking at the teams that have put up big wins against Down in recent times - Cork and Donegal. Obviously both good teams, but they both play with a real physical intensity that Down just can't deal with. The same way we played against Cork last year and against Dublin in this year's league. If we get the tactics and the heads right and take the game to them physically I think we will win this. If we let it turn into too much of a game of football, that'll suit Down perfectly. If its an open game it could go either way, I'd maybe even make them slight favourites in that situation because of the strength of their full forward line compared to ours.

Hopefully James will be wise to this and will set us up to win. I would definitely look at starting Seamus O'Shea on the 40 now, we need to put some muscle into the half forward line. A Dillon/O'Connor/McLoughlin half forward line is too lightweight for the kind of game we need to play from here on out.

Ballinaman - I'm fairly sure there hasn't been a previous championship meeting.

Mayo now into 8/1 for the cup after that draw. Down still out at 33s. Don't know if there's an each way bet available but, if there is, e.w. on Down at 33s seems like value.

Mayo 4/7 for this game.

Another interesting draw. The qualifier draws have thrown up some great fixtures this year, it's just a pity that more of the games haven't been televised.

Kildare/Limerick/Sligo - would fancy Kildare to win both games although Kildare v Sligo if it happens could be a cracking game if Sligo can get their heads up again after yesterday's disappointment. They have two weeks this time to prepare so I'd have some hope that they can play to their potential in Round four. Verdict: Kildare

Tipperary/Antrim/Down/Donegal - Great draw for Tipp and Antrim, wouldn't have expected either to be in the last 12 at the start of the year. The winner playing the beaten Ulster finalist is not such a great draw but Tipp or Antrim will have momentum whereas the Ulster loser will have a six or seven day turnaround after losing an Ulster final so there's at least a possibility of a surprise quarter finalist here. Verdict: Donegal in Ulster, Down via the qualifiers.

Kerry/Tyrone/Clare - a great draw for everyone else other than these three teams, a top six team will be going out early this year. If Kerry v Tyrone isn't televised serious questions need to be asked about how our games are being promoted. Home advantage plus the benefit of a scare yesterday to swing it for Kerry, but they won't like being made to peak this early in the year. Verdict: Kerry

Leitrim/Laois/Meath/Dublin - Leitrim will be delighted to get another home game, despite the disaster against Mayo this year is turning out well for them. They will make it tough for Laois in Carrick and the result is not a foregone conclusion. I don't think Meath are as good as Kildare made them look and reckon Dublin will win Leinster. On that basis a Round 4 game against Meath who would have only a weeks turnaround from the Leinster final offers real possibilities for the winner of the Leitrim v Laois game. Verdict: Dublin to win Leinster, Laois to come through the qualifiers.

That would leave the quarter finalists as: Cork/Donegal/Dublin/Mayo and Down/Kerry/Kildare/Laois.

Happy enough with that effort. 

Down for us.

Kerry/Donegal/Cork/Kildare all on the other side of the draw.

Laois/Dublin/Down and ourselves on our side.

Not too bad...although Down will feel the same way.

Almost certainly a crack at Dublin for the winners.

I think the possible draws for us will be something like Kildare, Down, Laois and Kerry. We cannot face Sligo in the quarters. A Sligo win over Kildare would therefore increase the chances of us drawing Kerry.

Clearly after the Donegal display yesterday we will be the team the qualifiers will want to get, albeit there are no easy draws for the teams that come through the qualifiers this year with three of last year's semi-finalists and the 2010 champions being what is on offer.

Last year's draw left us needing to beat the best three teams in the country to win an All-Ireland. This year I don't think Dublin look as good so the ideal draw would be for Kerry to get Donegal or Cork so that we would avoid all three in the quarters and also the semis if we get there.

I think this game depends on Sligo, Kildare are well exposed at this stage - we know where they stand. In terms of ability I'd say there is little between them, but whereas Kildare consistently show as a top ten team or thereabouts Sligo are capable of massively underperforming e.g Down 2010 and Leitrim last year. If Sligo haven't got the attitude for the qualifiers right Kildare will win at a canter but if they perform like they have done so far in the championship it'll be a 50/50 game.

Kildare dig it out and get extra time. Big ask for Limerick now.

Leitrim starting to fade a bit, Limerick sticking in well.

Limerick v Sligo for a place in the quarters would be an interesting one.

bit to go yet

Yes but the fact that statistic is even on at this stage makes a mockery of all the whinging you get from the Leinster based media about perceived easy runs to the quarters for the bigger Connacht and Munster teams.

Plus three from Connacht if Leitrim keep going as they are.

That would make it:

Munster/Connacht 11 counties in total - 8 in the last 12.
Leinster/Ulster      20 Counties in total - 4 in the last 12.

7-4 at half time. Big test for Kildare coming up here.

Laois needed that goal as the gap had gone out to five and they wouldn't be the heaviest of scorers with the way they're set up by McNulty.

There's a lot riding on this game as the winners would have a real shot at Meath if they lose to Dublin and only have a six day turnaround.

1-8 to 1-5 at half time though.

1-5 to 0-4 now.

Great stuff from Leitrim, they remain a match for almost any side in Carrick.

Make that 1-6 to 0-4.

The two boys should get a good feel for their surroundings while they're in there - maybe bring their dad/uncle in and show him around too. I'd say the three of them will be seeing a lot more of the place.